Grendel is the best from an AR then comes 6.8 SPC and the others .
Grendel is a beast in the regular AR frame and proven reliable.

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If you wanna make Grendel brass from 223 you're out of luck its parent case is a 6 mm ppc based on some Russian round. It's a very efficient case however

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Good to know, I hadn't looked into that yet, but that's fine. Mass producing .223 blasting ammo is easier and cheaper anyway.

 

I like my Grendels, it has a lot's of options for them in the reloading dept. and market support. My 6.8 is accurate, works well and have no problems hunting with it but I doubt I'd do another one.

 

Where do folks source bullets for reloading? Looks my usual places don't carry a lot of 6.5 options

 

6.5 is very popular now because of the Creedmoor so they should be readily available


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.264 projectiles

https://outdoors.natchezss.com/bestsellers/6.5-Bullets

Mine groups great with the Berger 130


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Thanks, I'll blame being tired last night because as I look now there are plenty. No idea what I was looking at last night.

 

Yuge Grendel fan. Started with one 1.5 years ago and now have 3. I searched and researched for several months. Was the best thing going in an AR-15 package that I could find.

 

In my opinion the 6.5 Grendel is the BEST option.

123 to 130 grain bullets have better sectional density and ballistic coefficient than the same weight bullets in the 6.8 SPC or the 300 BK. the only lighter weight bullet I would recommend would be the Barnes 115 grain which also has good BC and SD.

Some XLNT projectiles are:

Hornady Custom 123-grain SST
Hornady Black 123-grain ELD
Nosler Trophy Grade 129-grain AccuBond
Federal Premium 130-grain Gold Medal
Barnes 115 grain TTSX BT

 

Great news, from what I hear.

Seems like the economical option is to start with a PSA upper, I can swap out my .300 BLK lower easy enough, need more time on that ones trigger anyway.

I've looked at a few other options online but most seem to be out of stock (shocking! considering what's going on). Not looking to go too much over $450-500 for a starter. If I fall in love I can see building a better setup if necessary but, frankly, I'm not a good enough shooter to go much under .75" @ 100 unless it's my absolute best day, so if it'll hold around an inch or under in my hands I'll be happy. Of course playing with handloads is half the fun on that front.

Even better if I can take a whitetail this fall with it, but I haven't had a shot at one since '09 so I'm not holding my breath.

 

Maybe you don't know about 6mm ARC? It's a SAAMI caliber but basically just 6.5 Grendel necked down to 6mm. If you already have the Grendel, it's just a barrel change. If you don't have a Grendel then it's at least a bolt, mags and a barrel.

https://www.hornady.com/6mmARC

 

Interesting, I wasn't aware of that. I'll look at that too.

 

How much more recoil does the Grendel round have in an AR compared to 5.56?

 

its sharper but depending on who does your barrel and how it's gassed it's still very easy shooting . I have an 18 inch rifle gas with a carbine stock H2 buffer and a 2 port comp it shoots flat.
I would also recommend E lander mags, mine have been great .

 

Thread needs a picture, my >7lb 14.5" Lilja hunting stick. Only thing this is missing is a cerakote camo job, that day will come.

 

I have a few 5.56 Lilja barreled ARs, and my AR 308 has a Lilja barrel. I'm assuming that their 6.5 Grendel barrel also has phenomenal accuracy?


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I've not had any problems with e-lander mags but the ASC stainless mags are my favorites.

 

I have a few 5.56 Lilja barreled ARs, and my AR 308 has a Lilja barrel. I'm assuming that their 6.5 Grendel barrel also has phenomenal accuracy?
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Yes it shoots great, better than any other stick I have in the safe. Really didn't want to drop the coin on it at first but so glad I did, no buyers remorse and would buy another Lilja in a heart beat.

 

Speer also makes a 120gr 6.5mm Gold Dot. I bought a few hundred but have not loaded them yet.

 

Saw my local farm store stocks Hornady, federal and AE, not super cheap but not too much more than I've seen on line.

So that'll be nice to get some factory loads to test against.

 

According to a friend that's a real stickler for tight groups, Hornady ELD Match is the standard to be judged by.

 

You might take a look at the .277 Wolverine, if you have a .223/5.56 already all it takes is a barrel change. Factory ammo, while not common is available online and handloads use the abundant 5.56/.223 brass.

 

According to a friend that's a real stickler for tight groups, Hornady ELD Match is the standard to be judged by.

I've been disappointed by ELD Match. For me, it's not much better than Wolf but costs 3x more. My handloads are better and much cheaper.

 

Seems to be a mixed bag from what I've been reading, guess depending on specific barrel.

 

My Lilja shoots ELD's very good, shoots the hornady SST's even better which surprised me as it seems many barrels will barely hold moa with that round as most barrels don't. American Gunner does very well also, one of these days I'm going put a couple of wolf through it just to see what it does to end my curious george syndrome.

My 16" Odin does about 1.25" or so with the SST's and a bit better with ELD's.

 

My Lilja shoots ELD's very good, shoots the hornady SST's even better which surprised me as it seems many barrels will barely hold moa with that round as most barrels don't.

I forgot to mention that also. The SST's are the best commercial loads I've shot, but not by a lot.

 

You all have finished enabling me, I'm convinced I NEED a 6.5 Grendel, hopefully I can pester the wife enough she'll let me buy an upper just to get me to shut up.

Normally I wouldn't have to bother, but COVID has killed hours and I already bought a Wilson this year

Be easier if one of my guns on consignment sold.

Next question is build, looking over barrel/BCG options it seems the best bet is to just start with a full upper from somewhere like PSA and upgrade later as usual.

Probably a new lower and one of those fangled fancy triggers I read about. Been able to hold 1 MOA most days with whatever stock trigger my M&P came with and the EPT trigger I got for my .300 BLK. I have to wonder if I'd be any better with a "good" trigger.

 

I recommend upper/bbl and BCG from same manufacturer in case there's an issue.

As far as triggers, the ALG ACT is good/economical. The most expensive I have are RRA NM 4.5. I don't need stupid $$$ triggers.

 

My debate now is between uppers from PSA or Grendel Hunter. The Grendel Hunter is a bit more than I had wanted to pay, but they are out of stock of bolt carriers anyway so I can try to get a few more bucks.

PSA is a known quantity and more cost effective, but also a bit more of a gamble with accuracy, at least from my experience. Plus they have what I want now, so that's a plus.

Finances won't bet settled to give it a go for a little bit yet so I have some pondering to do.

 

Do what you want with PSA, but a bud bought a 6.5G Upper from them with a bad chamber. It took him forever to get his $ back.

 

In an AR platform the 6.8 is a better cartridge. There are WAY more dedicated bullets for the cartridge than the 6.5 and the 6.8 does better at hunting ranges in terms of velocity. I think most 6.5 velocities are WAY overstated and with a shorter 16" barrel length you will be in the 2100-2200 fps range with most Grendel loads. Its quite easy to load a 90 grain Nosler Accubond to 3,000 FPS in a 6.8 and that makes the SPC a honest 300 yard deer rifle. You can also push 115 grain bullets in the 6.8 to around 2600 fps--again without pushing the gun. That's a good bit better than a Grendel...

People will argue BC and SD in favor of the 6.5 without understanding that BC is a function of velocity--its not a constant. And the BC you THINK you have with a Grendel is not what you get with a more conventional 6.5 round like the CM or X55. SD is important if you are hunting dangerous game....whitetails? Not so much. The Grendel will do better with a 22 or 24" barrel. But why not just build an AR10 in 6.5CM and call it a day?

That's my take...YMMV

FWIW...I bought a lighteweight 6.8 barrel from PSA on sale for $180 and it outshot my $370 Noveske 6.8 barrel on the same receiver setup!